Former Ghana international Derek Boateng has firmly opposed calls for players of Ghanaian descent to be included in the Black Stars’ squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, insisting their presence could do more harm than good.
As debates continue over whether players who must switch nationality or return to represent Ghana should be invited, supporters believe the inclusion of England-based stars Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi would significantly strengthen the team. However, Boateng, a veteran of Ghana’s 2006 and 2010 World Cup campaigns, strongly disagrees.
Speaking on Sporty FM on Wednesday, the former Black Stars midfielder described the potential call-up of the duo as unfair to players who have been part of Ghana’s qualification journey.
“I feel like those players, they should not call them. They should not invite them. Odoi and Nketiah, no. I don’t think it’s fair,” Boateng said
He stressed that their inclusion would not improve performance but could instead disrupt team harmony. “They will not add anything. Bringing them will create a lot of chaos in the national team and a lot of trouble. Football is teamwork,” he added.
Boateng further explained that introducing new faces at a crucial stage could negatively affect morale among existing squad members. “If you are my friend and you’ve been playing the qualifiers and they didn’t invite you, I won’t be happy to go there and perform. I’ll have something inside me against those players,” he said.
With the World Cup just six months away, the debate over player selection continues to dominate discussions around the national team. Beyond national pride, significant financial incentives are also at stake, as Ghana stands to earn at least $10.5 million for qualifying, while the tournament winner will receive up to $50 million in prize money
